Residents of Şivon rural neighborhood in Mereş's Bazarcix (Pazarcık) district are reacting to the quarry owned by Eşkiler Mining Company, which has been operating for 22 years. According to the residents of the neighborhood; Agriculture and livestock farming have come to an end due to the quarry located approximately one kilometer away from the neighbourhood. Residents of the neighborhood stated that they were unable to open the doors and windows of their houses due to the dust rising from the quarry, and that a large part of the forest area was destroyed and that there were cracks in their houses due to the dynamite explosions.

 

CRACKS IN HOUSES

 

Stating that fruit trees and agricultural areas were greatly damaged due to the dust spread in the quarry, Neighborhood headman Yunus Çuçan (41) said: "Many residents of the neighborhood had to migrate due to the damage caused by the mine. The reason for the cracks in the houses is not earthquakes, but dynamite. These cracks existed before the earthquake. Although we applied many times for the removal of the mine, no result came out. The dust cloud sticks to the leaves of the trees, our animals destroy the leaves of those trees.When they eat it, they get poisoned and die. One of my pets also died this way."

 

LIFE IS IN DANGER!

 

Drawing attention that human health is also under serious threat, Çuçan said:"In addition to respiratory disorders, many women gave birth prematurely. One of them was my wife. When we asked the doctor why, he said 'the fertilizer blasted in the quarry may be harmful.' Agriculture and animal husbandry have almost ended due to the quarry. Currently, 90 percent of the village is engaged in peanut cultivation; however, the dust cloud spreading in the quarry also harms the peanuts. While the peanuts are covered with dust, the pistachio trees begin to dry. This quarry must be removed. If the quarry is not removed, there will be no life here."

 

'THE QUARRY ENDED OUR SOURCE OF LIVELIHOOD'

 

Stating that they could no longer do agriculture and animal husbandry, which are their only source of income, due to the quarry, Şükrü Atmalıoğlu (26), one of the residents of the neighborhood said: "Dust forms on our agricultural lands and on the fruit trees we grow. The resulting dust dries the trees. Our animals also get sick and die due to the dust cloud. Since our animals do not graze on this side, we have to take them to distant places. The depth was very low before, but the areas excavated by the quarry are getting larger. The excavated areas are getting bigger. The ground poses a great danger for animals as well. Our goats fell down many times. 8 of my goats got sick and died. We are planting vegetables, but we cannot benefit from them due to the dust cloud. The quarry ended our source of livelihood."

 

Expressing that they are afraid of their houses being destroyed due to the dynamite exploding, Atmalıoğlu said: "Our houses were cracked before the earthquakes. We neither have crops nor are we getting any yield from the fruit trees. We want this quarry to be removed. If this quarry stops here, there will be no one left here. Either we will leave or they will leave. They operate almost inside the village."

 

MA / Mahmut Altıntaş